The HSEEP Training Course incorporates exercise guidance and best practices from the HSEEP Volumes. Throughout the course, participants will learn about exercise-related topics including program management, design and development, conduct, evaluation, and improvement planning.

The HSEEP Training Course is an interactive course that allows participants to share personal lessons learned and best practices while gaining practical experience. In addition to the instructor-led course presentations, the course includes small group activities, videos, and group discussions. The course also provides overviews of HSEEP-related initiatives such as technology (e.g., the HSEEP Toolkit) and capabilities-based planning (e.g., Target Capabilities List [TCL]). This blended approach will give participants hands-on experience that readily translates to real-world exercise skills. Activities include creating exercise documentation, conducting exercise planning conferences and briefings, and practicing exercise evaluation.

The course has been developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) using input from Federal partners, subject matter experts (SMEs), and State and local representatives. HSEEP is a capabilities-based exercise program that includes a cycle, mix, and range of exercise activities of varying degrees of complexity and interaction. The purpose of HSEEP is to build self-sustaining exercise programs and provide a standardized methodology for designing, developing, conducting, and evaluating all exercises.

Participant Preparation

Participants need a basic knowledge of exercise design and HSEEP terminology. Therefore, participants are requiredto complete Independent Study (IS)-120.A, An Introduction to Exercises, before attending the HSEEP Training Course. The IS course takes approximately 3 to 5 hours to complete. To complete this requirement, follow these steps: